Paralysis Research in Nature

Experimental Device Allows Paralyzed
Man to Move His Hand for First Time

Chad Bouton is the lead author of a newly published paper in Nature detailing groundbreaking research that allows a young paralyzed man to move his fingers, hand and wrist again. The device bypasses damaged neural pathways and allows the brain to communicate directly with muscles via a brain implant and a custom-made sleeve embedded with electrodes.

The Nature paper describes the successful application of this pioneering device in the case of a quadriplegic who was able to control his paralyzed limbs using his thoughts and achieve complex motor functions. This is the first time such an achievement has been demonstrated in humans, and it opens a wide array of possibilities for millions of patients recovering from spinal cord injury, stroke and brain injury. This study was conducted by Bouton at his previous institution, Battelle Memorial Institute, and tested at The Ohio State University.